(Press-Register/Victor Calhoun)Animal lovers gathered for a memorial service for Gucci the dog at B&B Pet Shop Saturday, March 27, 2010. Doug James, owner of Gucci, shows a photo of the dog to Linda Pugh during the service. MOBILE, Ala. -- At B&B Pet Stop in west Mobile today, several dozen animal lovers -- some with their dogs -- gathered to remember the dramatic life of Gucci, the chow-husky mix whose torture as a puppy in 1994 led to an animal abuse law named after him.

The event, intended to be Gucci's 16th birthday party, was changed to a memorial after the ailing, aged canine was put to sleep this week.

"He was a primo dog-o," said Doug James, the college professor who had rescued Gucci from three teens who were hanging and setting fire to the yelping puppy.

"He had a very intelligent look," he said lovingly of his old pal, whom he saw through several operations, nursed back to health, and raised in his home. "He had an expression that said" -- James smiled -- "I know more than you do."

Indeed, on a table of memorabilia about Gucci, the scruffy, kind-eyed creature looked out from a picture frame with serene gaze.

"He's my hero," said Dianne Stober of Gucci, holding in her arms her toy poodle, Stormy.

Stober, who said she met Gucci a few times, depicted him as a gentle creature. "He'd have come up to kiss the people who tried to kill him," she said.

Amanda and Derrick Allen were at the memorial with their greyhounds, Ezra and Sweetie.

The story of Gucci, said Derrick Allen, "means so much to a dog owner and lover. We try to place dogs in homes."

Memorial service for Gucci the dog

Bill Bostic, who lives with a parrot named Marley, said he had been following the story of Gucci "since his rescue," and today carried pictures taken of Gucci at his 15th birthday party.

Gucci was a brave dog, Bostic said, and symbolized all animals who have endured abuse.

During James' remarks at the memorial, he read highlights of a speech titled, "What Gucci Has Taught Me."

He began: "Gucci taught me that people are evil."

But Gucci, he quickly said, also taught him that "people are good."

His abuse as a puppy led to an Alabama law that made intentional cruelty to animals a Class C felony, punishable up to 10 years in prison. Gucci during his time enjoyed the spotlight, appearing on television shows including "Inside Edition" and "Maury Povich."

"He was a publicity hound," James said.

Scores of people contributed to Gucci's care. James estimated that he had spent upwards of $7,000 in restoring Gucci to health. All of that amount, he said, was covered by gifts from compassionate donors.

During his remarks, James described animal cruelty as the abuse of "the powerless by the powerful."

Brenda Cashdollar, vice president of the Friends of the Mobile Animal Shelter, spoke of animal abuse as symptomatic of even deeper disturbances.

"If you abuse an animal," she said, "you'll abuse anybody."

Donna Turner, president of the group, said that there are plans to create a memorial for Gucci at the City of Mobile Animal Shelter.

"The plan," Turner said, "is to have a place for other pets to be memorialized as well."

To donate to the Friends of the Mobile Animal Shelter, write to 855 Owens Street, Mobile, AL 36604, or go to www.adoptapetmobile.org. For more information, call 251-208-2830. Donations can be specified for the Gucci memorial.

(Press-Register/Victor Calhoun)During a memorial service for Gucci the dog at B&B Pet Stop in Mobile, Ala.., on March 27, 2010, Kayla Fobors, 5, with her dog Baby Girl, places her name on a card for Gucci's owner, Doug James.